Photo By: Elin Chow
Address: Hai An Road, Xincheng Township, Hualien, Taiwan 花莲县新城乡海岸路
We started our 7th day of our 11D10N Taiwan Trip in Hualien 花莲 the next morning. After a hearty breakfast, we checked out of Qixingtan Qixinghai B&B 七星潭七星海民宿 and set off for our first destination of the day - Qixingtan Scenic Area (also known as Seven-Star Bay, Chishingtan or Cisingtan Scenic Area) 七星潭风景区.

 Qixingtan Scenic Area 七星潭风景区

Located in Beipu Village of Xincheng Township in Hualien Country, Qixingtan Beach is known as one of the most beautiful beach in Taiwan. Once a thriving fishing village, the beach is now a popular tourist destination in Hualien due to its abundance of natural beauty.


Upon arrival, we were greeted by a vast, open grassland set against the clear blue sky. In the distance, the mountains are shrouded by layers of clouds.

Walking in, you will find the iconic Stargazing Square. In the evening, the Star-gazing Square provides a great spot for stargazing. Visitors would be able see all the seven star of the Big Dipper here.


With plenty of fresh air and open grassland, this would be an ideal spot to have a picnic and kite flying. The entire area is huge with plenty of spaces to spread out the picnic blanket and enjoy a leisurely lunch on the sprawling grass field.


Taiwan is known for its cycling culture and Hualien, in particular, is a haven for cyclists. Qixingtan Bike Trail is a bike trail connecting Hualien city to Qixingtan. The 15km trail starts from Qixingtan Scenic Area to Beibin Park and would takes two to three hours to complete.

Cycling is a great way to explore and enjoy the coastal scenery in Hualien city. Surrounded by blue sky, ocean and lush natural greenery, the scenery along the trail was amazingly beautiful.

The bike trail was smooth, well-paved and easy to navigate. For those who are interesting in cycling, bicycle rentals are available at many locations, at a relatively affordable price.


Due to its remote location, Qixingtan Bike Trail was never really crowded, which allows one to cycle and explore at their own pace. There were several rest stops along the trail for one to stop and take a break.

Remember to bring your camera as there will be plenty of great opportunities for photography along the way. The best time to cycle is in the early morning or late evening time to beat the heat or tourist traffic.


Walking further in, we came upon a big rock with the Chinese character "Qixingtan Coastal Area" inscribed on it.
Just like other visitors with a camera, we took our typical tourist photo in front of the iconic monument and went off exploring the rest of the area.
After a quick photo session, we descended down a few stone steps leading to the beach.

Just like the Pebble Beach at Terrace Of The Three Immortals / Sanxiantai 三仙台风景区, Qixingtan Beach is a crescent-shaped bay made entirely out of stone pebbles. There are no sand, of any kind, at this beach. The kilometer-long coastline is completely made up of smooth stone pebbles of different colors and sizes, making it unique from the many other beaches I have visited in my entire life.

There are no paved walkway along the beach, making it inaccessible to visitors in wheelchairs who wish to see and explore the pristine coastline.


Please note that the law prohibits visitors from bringing any of the pebbles from the beach home as souvenir. Even if the law does not prohibit you to do that, please do not take any of them home. Can you imagine what will happen to the beach if every visitor bring a pebble or two home?  I believe the scenic beach would just vanish in a few years time!

The beach was seemingly clean but unfortunately, not litter-free. There were bits and pieces of trash scattered all over the entire beach, which was a very frustrating sight to see.

Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints, kill nothing but time.  Please be a responsible traveler and remember not to leave any of your trash behind or remove anything when you leave the beach. We all must play our a part in protecting and preserving the beauty of our natural environment.


It was not easy to walk our way across the beach without having our feet digging into the pebbles. However, the good thing is that we do not have to worry about getting sand in our shoes.


Although most of the pebbles have a smooth and rounded appearance, walking barefoot across the pebbly coast can still be a rather painful experience. Furthermore, the pebbles were too hot to walk on barefoot. I would recommend anyone to wear comfortable walking shoes when you visit the beach. Slippers and high heels are definitely not recommended.


The view from the beach was magnificent, offering an uninterrupted and stunning view of the Pacific Ocean and surrounding mountains. I was overwhelmed by beautiful scenery, remarkably blue sky and turquiose blue ocean.

Qixingtan Beach is famed for stunning unspoilt pebbly coastline and sparkling blue waters. However, please note that swimming is forbidden at Qixingtan beach due to extreme tide, high waves and strong currents.

The picturesque scenery offers an abundance of breathtaking photo opportunities in every direction.


We spent about an hour walking around, taking photograph and admiring the beautiful ocean scenery. The view was so picture-perfect that we could not resist taking as many photos as we could.


Despite being a popular tourist attraction in Taiwan, Qixingtan Scenic Area was never overwhelmed with tourists. It is almost never crowded, perhaps because of its remote location on the eastern side of Taiwan's Central Mountain Range.


We visited the beach on a blazing hot day and the sun was shining mercilessly in the clear blue sky, scorching us. Spending a long period of time under the scorching sun would lead to sunburnt and dehydration. Please remember to apply sufficient amount of sunscreen (which I forgot to), wear a hat and most importantly, drink plenty of water.


Away from the hustle and bustle of city life, Qixingtan beach is definitely a perfect place to relax and unwind. Close your eyes, take a deep breath of the fresh, warm ocean air and listen to the roaring waves crashing against the pebbly shore.


We sat down facing the shimmering blue water, taking in the warm breeze and sun.The sun was shining brightly in the sky, making the pebbles too scorching hot to sit on. Due to the hot and humid weather, we could not sit too long on the beach.


Other than stargazing, the beach is also an excellent place to view sunrise and sunset. Couples can even enjoy a romantic stroll along the beach at sunset.


On a clear day, you might be able to catch a glimpse of the spectacular Qingshui Cliff ( also known as Chingshui Cliff or Cingshui Cliff ) 清水断崖 in the far distance.


Qixingtan Scenic Area is an ideal destination for anyone who enjoy breathtaking scenery, glorious sunshine and stunning ocean views. Much of the beach remains largely unspoilt and undeveloped, making it a great place to appreciate the peace of nature. We were amazed by the impossibly blue sky, ocean and stunning coastline. The beauty of the beach made it so hard for us to leave.
Qixingtan Scenic Area is a must visit destination and I would recommend anyone to drop by if you are visiting Hualien.

If you are interested to know more about our trip, you may want to check out our 11D10N round island tour itinerary for the list of attractions that we had visited during our 11 days in Taiwan. Be sure to follow me on Facebook or Twitter  for the latest updates on my 11 days adventures in Taiwan!